Frak yeah!
Galactica prequel in the works [via SE].
SCI FI Channel announced the development of Caprica, a spinoff prequel of its hit Battlestar Galactica... Caprica would take place more than half a century before the events that play out in Battlestar Galactica. The people of the Twelve Colonies are at peace and living in a society not unlike our own, but where high technology has changed the lives of virtually everyone for the better. But a startling breakthrough in robotics is about to occur, one that will bring to life the age-old dream of marrying artificial intelligence with a mechanical body to create the first living robot: a Cylon. Following the lives of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas (the family of William Adama, who will one day become the commander of the Battlestar Galactica), Caprica will weave together corporate intrigue, techno-action and sexual politics into television's first science fiction family saga.
First off, let me say that I'm a huge fan of Battlestar Galactica (as I was definitely not of the orignal; I was more of a Space 1999 kid). In addition to being an engrossing action-drama, it's got some very smart, clever politics. Even more intriguingly — and rare for television — those politics are conservative, so I'm not exactly inclined to be forgiving. In a way it's the anti-Next Generation. Not that there was anything wrong with TNG or its liberal-utopian politics, but I see them as ideal counterpoints to one another (it's no coincidence that BSG honcho Ron Moore cut his teeth on Trek), and Battlestar definitely reflects our paranoid current era the way TNG reflected the peace and prosperity of the 90s.
The question, then, is what will make Caprica, given the above description, fundamentally different from TNG? "Sexual politics" sounds intriguing, because God knows, Battlestar Galactica is one sexy fraking show. But "family saga"? Well, definitely worth rooting for.
Related thoughts: Young Bill Adama? Well, at least it looks like we still have a chance to shoot down that young Kirk & Spock trial balloon.
I'm mildly enjoying the new Dr. Who, but it's basically the same cheesy show with somewhat better production values. Too bad Russell Davies couldn't have done what Moore did with BSG. Anyone holding out hopes for Torchwood?
Also, since I don't know what other ocassion I'll have to bring this up, Gina pointed out to me a while ago that jai-alai seems like one of those cool (superfast) but slighly ridiculous (fronton) sports that get get made up for scifi shows — much like pyramid. So maybe Caprica is... Earth! Or at least Connecticut.
Comments
I like your new "photo of two chicks with every post" policy. Keep it up!
Posted by: Rubrick | April 27, 2006 6:06 PM
Perfect timing on this story! We've become totally addicted to BSG. However, I screwed up and had us watching the DVDs without realizing that there aren't any more yet! So we're stuck in the middle of season two, with the fate of our cylon-loving guys dependent upon Ms Admiral byatch...I just can't keep up with a weekly series anymore so I only watch TV as DVD collections. But I think the show is fantastic and timely. The torture plot WRT the cylon captives (both female thus subject to particularly sexual violence) is just harsh. On a lighter note, what's not to like about a show with hot smart chicks and guys w/mad space skills?
Posted by: Dawn | April 28, 2006 1:37 AM
If it's done with the same care, concern, and intelligence as BSG it could be great. It's the best thought-out Science Fiction show I've ever seen, and has few rivals outside the genre. More like Hill Street Blues in space than Star Trek. TNG had the whole universe at their disposal and all they did was hit the holodeck to go back to the 40s. Boring in the extremis (to borrow from HSB). But BSG has such a limited purview and makes absolutely the most of it. Every episode gives me shivers of quality.
I'm in the same boat as Dawn DVD-wise (I don't have cable) so I don't know what's going on right now up there but I don't read the politics as conservative so much as a reasonable extrapolation of their situation, the politics of constant crisis (but genuine). Although the religion does bother me they do treat it well. I just miss feldocarb.
I have no hopes for Torchwood. Or as I think of it: Dr Who to O.C.
Posted by: TG Gibbon | April 28, 2006 10:27 AM
We were in the same boat Re: middle of season 2 for BSG, but then we realized that there is a high-def channel that is rebroadcasting them all so, we have been able to catch up somewhat. Daniel says that he read somewhere that they'll be releasing the second 1/2 of season 2 before season 3 starts, so never fear!
Posted by: Gina Duclayan | April 28, 2006 2:38 PM
I'm really enjoying the level of snark in the new Dr. Who.
Posted by: liz | April 28, 2006 11:48 PM